Blues v Waratahs
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This should be an absolute bloodbath
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@mariner4life said in Blues v Waratahs:
This should be an absolute bloodbath
Don’t know about a bloodbath. Tahs attack has been functioning a lot better this year
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Waratahs:
Blues are certainly favourites but the Tahs nearly tipped up the Brumbies in Canberra.
..and Chiefs had to grind out a win against the week before that.
Blues should win and it should be reasonably comfortable in the end. I’m just not expecting a thrashing. It could get awkward if they score first.. when the Tahs have confidence they’ve been scoring great tries
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@Tim said in Blues v Waratahs:
Sounds like Akira Ioane will be back. Does he start or come off the bench?
If Heem is available, do you start him or Plummer at 12?
Suafoa or Tucker on the bench at 19?
My picks:
Start Ioane and play him until he runs out of gas
Heem is a great bench option and Plummer deserves another start
Suafoa > Tucker. His carrying late in the game against tired defences is great.Assuming a 5/3 split who is the loosie cover? Segner, Choat, Robinson? I don’t think Robinson covers the right spots
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I'm guessing they will stick with Jordan Lay at loosehead, and James Lay as bench tighthead? It would be good to see Tu'ungufasi get a start at tighthead. Still think we are lacking output from our frontrow a bit, even if the scrum is good now. Hope Funaki gets bench time. Robinson offers height off the bench, but Choat is pretty integral to this team. Final back reserve is an interesting one. Lam or Sullivan? Haven't been impressed by Kneepkens.
1 Jordan Lay
2 Riccitelli
3 Laulala
4 Tuipulotu
5 Darry
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Plummer
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Perofeta16 Vikena
17 Tu'ungufasi
18 James Lay
19 Suafoa
20 Choat
21 Funaki
22 Heem
23 Lam -
@Tim said in Blues v Waratahs:
Lam or Sullivan
If you've guessed everything else right I would say Sullivan. Heem covers 11-14 and there isn't good fullback cover
(Otherwise a fullback injury would probably result in multiple changes BB to 15, Plummer to 10, Heem to 12)Plus I want Sullivan to get some time so we can start him at 15 vs the Drua in Fiji the following week. His kicking distance will be useful
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But you also claimed the Chiefs v Tahs game would "be a fucking slaughter". It wasn't a slaughter, it was more of an arm wrestle. Chiefs probably got dragged down to the Tahs level.. but still it was competitive
Predicting the worst each week so you can get surprised by an OKish performance?
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@Duluth said in Blues v Waratahs:
But you also claimed the Chiefs v Tahs game would "be a fucking slaughter". It wasn't a slaughter, it was more of an arm wrestle.
From memory the chiefs didn't field nearly their best team, and those out there didn't put in nearly their best performance.
Don't think the blues will be as bad at home
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They are 2-5
Defensively they have given up 31 and 40 to the Brumbies, and 34 to both the Rebels and the Canes
Their for-and-against is really bolstered by getting to play the Drua in Melbourne, and their home game against the Force.
They've played two games against NZ sides and scored 14 and 17 pointsAgainst the Blues (a team i think has the ability to put on points faster than any other side in teh comp) i expect them to concede a pretty high score. And i don't have faith in them to put on more than 20.
Evidence so far points to a 20 point loss
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@mariner4life might depend on the injury toll as to how bad it is; if this is Round 9 then we hopefully see a few back...
Players unavailable for selection:
Angus Bell – Toe (Season)
Charlie Gamble – Shoulder (Round 9+)
Hugh Sinclair – Shoulder (Round 9)
Langi Gleeson – Calf (Round 9)
Mosese Tuipulotu – Knee (Round 9)
Sateki Latu – Neck (Round 9)
Tane Edmed – Back (Round 9)
Tiaan Tauakipulu – Knee (Round 10)
Will Harrison - ACL (Season)
